Rack



L. CINAMON Nov. 22, 1949 RACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1945 I N V EN TOR.

L. CINAMON Nov. 22, 1949 RACK 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Dec. 5, 1945 i I N VEN TOR.

L. CINAMON Nov. 22, 1949 BACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 5, 1945 w-v n E Z2 i [N VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 22, 1949 UN IED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE RACK Lionel Cinamon', New York, N. Y.

Application December 5, 1945, Serial No. 632,937

8 Claims.

This invention relates to racks for supporting articles and in particular is directed to ,racksin which arms for supportin articles, are held in position. between demountable sections, the whole being assembledto form a rack.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rack having a variety of uses which may be readily assembled from. easily manufactured stock parts with attendant economic advantages in markedly reduced costs and savings in mate-, rials, parts and storage space.

It is another object of this invention to assure the proper relative clamping of article-supporn ing arms between readily assembled .sections which may be quickly and firmly combined in o a rack structure.

It is a further object of the invention to combine the sections of a rack in a single unit without the use of unnecessary connecting means, such as screws, rivets or the like between the ends of the unit carrying the article-supporting arms.

It is still another object of the invention horizontally to mount columns, formed from sections which clamp article-support ng arms in. a frame without the use of any unnecessary connecting means, such as screws, rivets .or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack for use in the electroplating art which is capable of carrying both anodicand cathodic current.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein:

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of 'my invention.

Fi 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section online 3*3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line .4.'4 of Fig. ,2.

Fig. 5 is a front view of nother embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top view of the structure shown in Fig. 5. 7

Fig. -8 is a diagrammatic front view of a section for holding an article-supporting arm.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the form of structure illustrated in '1. the article-supporting arms being a modification of those shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the sleeve section shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. '11 is a front view ofa rack formed of an assemblage of horizontal columns mounted be-, tween vertical members, the upper and lower portions of which members are not illustrated.

Fig. 12 is a perspective "view, partially .broken away, showing the structure ofl ig. 1 asadapted for the mounting of a modified form of articlesupporting arms.

Fig. 1.3 is a perspective view, partially broken away showing a modified form of structure wherein the sections holding article-supporting arms are ,held in position by external means.

Fig. 14 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention in which the sections for holding the article-supporting arms are maintained in assembled relationship by an internal column and a slotted external sleeve.

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section of the embodiment shown in .Fig. 14 taken on the line A-A thereof.

Fig. 16 is a cross-section of the structure shown in Fig. 14 taken on the line BB thereof.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive the numeral Ill indicates a rod, the upper portion of which is bent so as to form a hook ll adapted for hanging the structure on a support. The rod l0 may be made of a square cross-section over which there is sheathed a plurality of sections l2 in the :form of sleeves or tubes. Either or both ends of the said sections l2 may be provided with slots l3 at the edges thereof whereby four prongs M are formed which may be offset outwardly so as to create shoulders as at l5. The group of prongs M at the ends of said sleeve sections form a cup or nest which may be utilized to receive the end It of an adjacent non-pronged sleeve section.

Articles may be held on article-supporting arms or elements I1, made, for example, of a U-s'haped or fork-like wire. The base [8 of the U is .of such dimensions that the space between the tines I9 of said forks is substantially equal to the distance between two parallel planes of the outer surface of the rod [0. The lower portion of said forks embraces the rod 10 and the tines of said forks project through the slots l3 between the prongs 14 of the sleeve sections. The tines I9 are arranged between interengaging ends of two adjacent sleeve sections in such a manner that the oppositely disposed bases l8 of the oppositely disposed forks may rest on two parallel planes of the rod l 0. In this way the tines of the oppositely disposed forks pass in opposite directions through the slots l3. The lower portions of the oppositely disposed forks rest on each other and are clamped between the insides of the shoulder I5 and the end I6 of the adjacent nested sleeve section.

Both ends of lowermost sleeve section 21 are non-pronged and said section is held in place by a fastening means such as a nut 22 or the like which may press against a washer if desired, the nut being screwed on the lower end of the rod III which may be appropriately threaded. The upper portion of the rod carrying the hook I! is twisted as at 2.3 to provide astop for frictionally engaging the end It of the uppermost of the sleeve sections. In this way the sleeve sections may be easily held in place when the nut 22 is tightened against a washer. It will be observed that the nut 22 is the only independent fastening element by which the sleeve sections are held in place so as to effectuate the clamping of the article-supporting arms.

The rack may be assembled as follows: The

uppermost of the sleeve section l2 illustrated in Fig. 8, with the slotted end pointing outwardly, is slipped over the rod l0. Then one of the forks is slipped over the rod I and moved upwardly until its tines enter two of the slots I3 in the sleeve section and come to rest in the shoulder 15. .Another fork is then slipped over the rod l0 and moved upwardly until the tines enter the selected slots. If desired, additional forks may be introduced in similar fashion with the tines thereof extending outwardly at right angles to each other. After the forks have been placed in position, another sleeve section I2 or, if desired, a spacer, i. e., a section in which both ends are non-pronged, is then slipped over the rod ID with the slotted end of said sleeve section pointing outwardly. This sleeve section may be moved upwardly until its upper end If; enters the nest at the lower end of the first sleeve section and rests on the lower portion of the fork which was last introduced. This operation may be repeated until all the sleeve sections i2, and/or spacers, with the desired number of forks, are mounted, after which the nut 22 is screwed on the lower end of the rod 10, so as to clamp the articlesupporting elements firmly in position, thereby completing the assemblage of the structure.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, the article-supporting arms are carried by a horizontal column mounted on a suspension rod 39 which constitutes a part of a frame-like structure. The rod 30 is bent at its upper end to form a hook 3| similar to hook H.

The frame comprises a yoke 32 through the upper part of which the rod 30 may be passed. The lower free ends of said yoke are adapted to permit the passage of a rod 33 which forms the core of the horizontal column carrying articlesupportlng arms. Two sleeve sections 34 are mounted on the rod 33 at opposite sides of the rod 30. These sections may be of the same structure as those described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. These sleeve sections rest with their nonslotted ends 35 against the rod 30.

The adjacent sleeve sections or spacers may be subdivided to form shorter sleeve sections 36 and 3'! which may be nested within the prongs of the adjacent section. The other ends of 3B and 37 may be abutted by the lower ends of the yoke 32. Article-supporting elements 39 similar to elements l'i may be mounted as hereinabove described with respect to thestructures of Figs. 1 to 4. The end members of the horizontal column may be formed by sleeve sections 41 similar to sleeve section 2| and the entire structure tightened to form the finished rack by means of nuts 42 screwed on the ends of rod 33 which are appropriately threaded to receive the same.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 9 the general arrangement of the central rod and the sleeve sections is similar to that of Fig. 1, the modification residing in the form of the articlesupporting arms 43. These arms, instead of being forked members may be unbent wires or rods which extend straight through the slotted portions of the sleeves.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 11 the structure may be formed of a plurality of horizontal columns comprising rods carrying the article-supporting arms or members. The rack shown in this modification i assembled by sheathing a desired number of sleeve sections and/or spacers, similar in form to those hereinbefore described, over a rod 50, the oppositely disposed ends of which are mounted in a pair of vertical risers 50X and 50X. The articlesupporting members 53, similar to I! or 43, may be held in position in a fashion similar to those of Fig. 1 or Fig. 9. The entire assemblage may be clamped together by appropriate means such as nuts 55, screwed on the ends of the rods which are threaded to receive them, and then tightened.

In Fig. 12 there is shown a rack structure in which the arrangement of a central rod 60 over which are sheathedsleeve sections 6| and spacers 62 is generally similarto that of Fig. 1. In this modification, however, the article-supporting members 65 may be made of fiat stock which is held in position by the prongs 66, the length of which is commensurate with the width of the fiat stock. An edge 61 of the flat stock is engaged by the shoulder portion of the prong while the opposite edge 68 may abut the unnotched end of another sleeve section or a spacer. If desired, however, the edge 68 may be engaged by a prong of an abutting sleeve section in a fashion similar to that in which the edge 61 is engaged.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 13 comprises an assemblage of pronged sections 10 and spacer members "H which may be solid members except for the prongs l2. Article-supporting arms or members 14 may be positioned within the prongs and held therein by the abutment of an adjacent section or non-pronged spacer. Rigidity of the rack thus formed by assembling the pronged sections, spacers and article-supporting arms may be achieved by means of a plurality of external rods 15, which are maintained in position by clamping members 16 and 11. The ends of rods 15 may pass through members 16 and 11, and the clamping effect obtained, for example, by nuts screwed on the threaded ends of said rods, or by any other appropriate means. The structure may be provided with'hook 18 or other means for suspending the rack, by attachment of the hook to the upper of the clamping members. If desired, the lower of the clamping members may constitute a base which may be rested on the floor, in which case the hook may be dispensed with.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 14 to 16 the rack comprises a central rod 80, the upper end of which is bent in the form of a hook BI and provided with a stop as at 82. There may be sheathed over this rod a plurality of sections 83 in theform of sleeves or tubes of cross-sections similar to that of the rod and between the adjacent ends of which sections are positioned article-supporting arms 84. These arms may be formed of wires'or rodswhich are so shaped that a'portion thereof as at 85 is of similar contour as clamping of said external sleeve against the internal column. Such clamping may be effected by pressing the upper end of the external sleeve against the internal column and at the lower end by tightening a nut 90 against the base 9| of said external sleeve.

The racks made in accordance with the principle of this invention may be used for a variety of purposes. Among the advantages of these structures it is to be noted for example that they may be used in the electroplating art. When used as racks for holding articles to be electroplated the structures should be electroconductive. If desired, the assemblage may be coated with insulating materials and so much thereof may be removed as is necessary to provide electrical contact areas or surfaces.

It is also to be observed that if the structures of this invention be used in the electroplating art it is possible to utilize them as a means for carrying a supply of anodic and cathodic current at the same time. Thus by proper insulation of one or both of the conductive elements of the rack the electroplater may utilize the rack so as to be assured of a maximum supply of both anodic and cathodic current.

Racks constructed in accordance with the principle of this invention may be used for other purposes such as a means for display of articles and merchandise; the article-supporting members being part of a conveying system, etc.

It will also be observed that the pronged sections provide broadly adaptable structures for rapidly and easily mounting various article-supporting members by the combination therewith of appropriate clamping.

It will be obvious that by increasing the number of sections and/or spacers, any number of article-supporting arms (which may be bent into any desired shape) may be mounted in structures Without departing from the principle of the invention. The spacers and the sections may be made of any length and they may be used in various combinations or multiples to adjust the distances between the article-supporting members.

Various other changes of the construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. Thus, the rods, instead of being of square-shaped cross-section as shown, may have other shapes, such as circular or polygonal. In such cases the surrounding sections may have shapes conforming therewith and, if pronged, may be provided with any desired number of slots depending upon the particular polygonal form used. For example, if a hexagonal shape be used, it is possible to arrange the work-holding elements in diflerent angular relationships with each other from the 90 to 180 relationships provided for by the square rod. The foregoing description and drawings are deemed to be illustrative only and the invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A rack comprising in combination: A spacing section provided with a set of prongs; an article-supporting arm positioned by said prongs; a spacer section abutting the article-supporting arm; means for maintaining the spacer sections and the article-supporting arm in alignment; and means for locking the aforesaid combination in rigid relationship.

2. A rack comprising in combination: A spacing section provided with a set of prongs; and an article-supporting arm positioned by said prongs;

a spacer section abutting the article-supporting arm; a rod for maintaining the spacer sections and the article-supporting arm in alignment; and means for clamping the aforesaid combinations in rigid relationship.

3. A rack comprising in combination: article supporting arms positioned between demountable sections and engaged within prongs of said sections; and means extending throughout the length of the rack structure for locking said article supporting arms and said sections in rigid clamping relationship.

4. A rack comprising in combination: article supporting arms positioned between demountable sections and engaged within prongs of said sections; a member for maintaining the article supporting arms and the sections in alignment; and means for maintaining the aforesaid assemblage in rigid clamping relationship.

5. A rack comprising in combination: a rod; sleeve sections mounted on said rod, at least one end of a sleevesection being provided with a slotted enlargement forming prongs and adapted to receive the end of the adjacent sleeve section and article supporting arms received in the slots clamped between said sleeve sections; and means for holding said rod, sleeve sections, and article supporting arms in rigid clamping relationship.

6. A rack comprising in combination: a rod; sleeve sections mounted on said rod, one of said sleeve sections being provided at one end with an enlargement adapted to receive the end of the adjacent sleeve section; slots in said enlargement forming prongs; article supporting arms extending through said slots and clamped between the sleeve sections; and means for holding said rod, sleeve sections and article supporting arms in rigid clamping relationship.

7. A rack comprising in combination: a frame formed of a vertical rod, a yoke mounted on said vertical rod, and a horizontal rod extending through said vertical rod and held in engagement by the end portions of said yoke; one of said rods having mounted thereon sleeve sections provided with a set of prongs, article supporting arms engaged within the prongs and clamped between the sleeve sections; and means for holding said rods, sleeve sections and article supporting arms in rigid clamping relationship.

8. A rack comprising in combination: a frame formed of a vertical rod, a yoke mounted on said vertical rod, and a horizontal rod extending through said vertical rod and held in engagement by the end portions of said yoke, the horizontal rod having mounted thereon sleeve sections provided with prongs for receiving article supporting arms clamped between said sleeve sections; and means for holding said rods, sleeve sections and article supporting arms in rigid clamping relationship.

LIONEL CINAMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 382,542 McElroy May 8, 1888 831,510 Heimann Sept. 18, 1906 878,271 Blackford Feb. 4, 1908 947,978 McComb Feb. 1, 1910 1,739,740 Stoeltzlen Dec. 17, 1929 1,944,601 Gulick Jan. 23, 1934 2,325,260 May July 27, 1943 

